There are many Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medications in the pharmaceutical world. All ADHD medications have their differences and similarities. Two of the most popular and widely-used medications to treat ADHD are Adderall and Concerta. These two medications are very similar in producing the same effect on a person with ADHD; however, these medications are made very differently. These medications today are in high demand because the number of ADHD diagnoses is increasing in people today. As of 2011 11% of children ages 4-17 have been diagnosed with ADHD. Kids who are diagnosed with ADHD will most likely take Adderall, Concerta or any other ADHD medication for the rest of their life.,
Adderall was developed by Shire Pharmaceuticals
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The first kind of Adderall is Adderall IR ( immediate release) which is a single entry amphetamine product that combines the neutral sulfate salts of dextroamphetamine and amphetamines. The other kind of Adderall is Adderall Xr ( extended release). Adderall is a capsule that contains two types of drug containing beads that is designed to give a double-pulsed entry of amphetamines. The double pulse drag out the release of amphetamines from Adderall XR. Adderall XR contains four salts in equivalent proportions. This production is prepared with the drug molecules formed into two kinds of micro beads. The first release releases the active agents directly which make up half of the content in each pill. The second type of releases the rest of the active ingredients over four hours. The advantage of extended release formulation is that people living with ADHD only have to take it once a day. People with diagnosed ADHD should talk to their physician to decide which Adderall would work best for …show more content…
Concerta was first approved by the FDA in 2000. Concerta was a huge medical breakthrough medication for kids with ADHD because it was the first real once a day medication. and became very popular very quickly. Today, Concerta is extremely popular with being prescribed by pediatricians for kids with ADHD. Concerta is produced by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and is made with a methylphenidate. Methylphenidate was first synthesized in 1944 and became identified as a stimulant in 1957. However, Methylphenidate was not used as a treatment for ADHD till 1960. Methylphenidate is now a popular stimulant in ADHD medications. Concerta just like Adderall is legally classified a Schedule II drug for. Concerta is also has some pregnancy risk for pregnant women and is classified as a Class C for pregnant women. However, there has been no controlled studies on pregnant women using concerta physicians don’t recommend
The significance of adderall is to mainly treat people who have narcolepsy and/or attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Regularly taking the medication with the correct dosage, ensures a person to get the most benefit from it. Adderall increases levels of dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline in the brain. This causes elevated moods in majority of people. With an elevated mood, a person might feel more attentive and focused throughout their day. As a result and also a benefit from taking Adderall, higher motivation and enhanced levels of productivity are shown. Adderall is often prescriped as an effective appetite suppressant for people who want to lose weight. Adderall is also beneficial when it comes to individuals who suffer from narcolepsy.
Next the new off brand drug called Concerta, this is an ADHD drug but doesn’t come close at all to being one of the better drugs. Concerta an extended release from their symptoms for as long as 12 hours. The New York Times article “Generic ADHD Drug, not equivalent to the brand, is in use anyway” by Katie Thomas writes about this drug and its effects. The agency who makes this drug said that although it is considered to be safe, its own lab tests and other analyses suggested that their effectiveness began to wear off much more quickly- after about seven hours, that time frame is important because the pill can only be taken once a day. This drug is made by CVS, Riteaid, and Walgreens. When Concerta was approved in 2000, it was welcomed by doctors
There are many medications that affect children’s health in today’s society. Doctors prescribe lots of medication which can be avoided, when children are properly diagnosed with certain health problems. Attention - deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has impacted many people with the danger of certain medications which is overprescribed to all ages each year. The hidden dangers of the medications these doctors are prescribing, is that our children are being misdiagnosed with ADHD at a very early age, and this is causing many different side effects. Long term use of these medications can cause severe side effects. The most commonly prescribed drugs, are Ritalin, Adderall and Concerta, which cause children to have nervousness, appetite suppression, insomnia and increased blood pressure and heart problems. Also pharmaceutical companies are well aware of the danger to children and adults that these drugs may cause.
In conclusion, Adderall is a dangerous drug that should not be used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Students and people everywhere taking these pills non medically need to understand the dangers associated with taking Adderall and the risks being taken every time they consume this dangerous medication. Parents of the young children being prescribed Adderall need to look into different treatment options before just giving their child a dangerous schedule II drug. Though Adderall can help some of its users, it should not be given to children. It is a dangerous drug to use even for the people that actually need it, everyone with ADHD should look into other options for treatment. Doctors need to step up and stop giving these
ADD was first acknowledged by society in 1980 but doctors had seen symptoms of it for many years just had no name to call it. In 1902, an English pediatrician, Sir George Still had notice that his patient were inattentive which is a symptom of ADD . Sir George Still thought that the inattentiveness was hereditary.In 1919 variouse people survived the influenza pandemic but developed encephalitis(inflamation of the brain) which has similar symptoms to ADD this caused people to belive that ADD was caused by brain damage.scientist frist recognized that stimulants can control symptoms of ADD in1937.in 1994 they relized that there was three subgroupes to ADHD. In 1996 the FDA approved another medicine to treat
Of those stimulant medications, the most common are Ritalin, Dexedrine, Adderall, Adderall XR, Concerta, Vyvanse, and Focalin XR (Jaksa, 1998). For those who do not like stimulant medications or the idea of seeing a psychiatrist on a regular basis, there are alternate forms of treatment for dealing with the effects of ADHD. Yoga, Vitamins, Herbal Supplements, and even special diets have been proven to be successfully in helping an individual deal with the effects of ADHD (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2013). One could gain a lot from using these alternate forms of treatment if they want to take natural approach to treatment. They would not have to worry about the potential negative side effects of stimulant medications. They can also become addictive. However, this can also be risky. These alternate forms of treatment cannot replace the expertise and knowledge of a licensed psychiatrist. Working with someone who is certified to diagnose and treat this condition can provide access to some of the best treatment possible.
According to the International Journal of Neuropsychiatric Medicine, about 4% of adults in the United States are affected by ADHD. It’s a disorder that usually emerges in childhood and in the past was thought of as exclusive to a person’s earlier years. More recent research has proved this to be untrue, instead revealing that many people who are diagnosed with ADHD in childhood will continue to have symptoms into adulthood (Ramsay). It is primarily treated with stimulant medications such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Ritalin, or Focalin; however, the long-term use of stimulants to treat ADHD may not be the best option. Through
Amphetamine is one of the most potent sympathomimetic drugs, causing effects by raising levels of the biogenic amines, dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin, through multiple mechanisms within the body (Berman, Steven M. et al 2009). Amphetamine based nervous stimulants such as Adderall ®, Concerta ®, Ritalin ®, and Dexedrine ® are commonly prescribed for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, and narcolepsy (McCabe and West 2013). In 1991, fewer than 500,000 annual prescriptions were written for amphetamine in the US, but prescriptions for amphetamine grossed over eight million in 2000. (Berman, Steven M. et al 2009). In nine years, the number of prescribed amphetamine grew by 1600% and is continually growing. The
Stimulants medication has been used for over 60 years to aid in ADHD symptoms. Some types of stimulants clinically used today are methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and mixed-salts amphetamine. According to Practice Parameter for the Use of Stimulant Medications in the Treatment of Children, Adolescents, and Adults, “Stimulants are among the most effective psychotropic medications in clinical use today”. The beneficial effects were discovered in 1937 when it was proven to improve academic performance and on-task behaviors in classrooms (Practice Parameter…).
If you look at the numbers about twenty -two percent of all those diagnosed with Attention Deficient Hyper Active disorder are school aged. That is nearly 5.1 million children and of these 3.5 million (or sixty-nine percent) are taking Medications. Pharmaceutical sales for common ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin have nearly doubled in the past five years (Hunt, Jeffery. 2016. Para 3). Then in the last ten years there has been an increase of sixty-seven percent in infant/child diagnoses and a forty-one percent increase in adults diagnosed. These numbers are not just for diagnosed persons but include those seen, diagnosed and treated for ADHD (Kataoka, Sheyl.2016). That is a sixteen percent increase since
Another reason for the increasing rise in the use of neuroenhancers is that these drugs are readily available. Often classmates have seen their peers with ADHD take these pills. In college, it is an easy matter of borrowing some from a friend with ADHD who has a ready supply through a prescription or they buy them from a supplier (Talbot 3). One student closely observed the symptoms of his brother who had been diagnosed with ADHD. Upon describing these same symptoms to his doctor, the healthy student received a prescription for Adderall (Talbot 2). Drugs such as Adderall and Ritalin are amphetamines which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Perucca, E. (2009). Extended-Release Formulations of Antiepileptic Drugs: Rationale and Comparative Value. Epilepsy Currents, 9(6): 153-157. Doi:
I didn’t understand why I had to take the medication nonetheless know the benefit I would get out of taking it. My parents feared that I would think less of myself because I required medication in order to function “normally”. The constant reminder that I am still a “normal” child became the subject of discussion every morning. In fact, I never thought of it. The Concerta is supposed to “fill in” the missing chemicals in my brain and allow me to focus in school and perform well on my studies. Children with ADHD have a lack of dopamine, one of the neurotransmitters that help decipher messages received to the brain (Rief
Getting distracted by things in your environment, fidgeting in one’s chair while the teacher is trying to teach, and an inability to be patient are a few of the symptoms that could contribute to a child being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder, or ADD. This condition has become such a normal part of society that episodes of television shows, such as The Simpsons and South Park, have been created to make the condition and the drugs used to treat it seem humorous. These drugs, such as Ritalin and Concerta, are strong stimulants classified as Schedule II prescription drugs. Although these drugs can, to some extent, help children in focusing their attention, they are not the most effective way of treating attention deficit disorder.
Halloween is around the corner. First thing that comes to mind is candy; for adults and of course children. Usually the common solution for child safety during Halloween is to check your child’s good bag when they get back home. But what if, the homes own medicine cabinet is the real danger? Vyvanse, Concerta, Methylin, Ritalin, and Adderall being the most commonly used drugs prescribed for ADHD. Over 160 annual cases were pharmaceutical drugs that were maliciously used on children. Parents don’t realize the dangers they’ve put their own children at risk with when giving them these addictive, harsh drugs affecting children severely short and long term.